Ryan at 14 months

Photos will be posted soon, but as I'm getting ready to start teaching again, I figured I better jot down some comments now before I get too lost in the shuffle.

Ryan had his first real haircut by our friend, Melinda Cutillo. Ryan did NOT have fun, but I think it was because he hates having his hands held down. Melinda did a great job despite the bucking bronco she had to deal with. Before and after photos will be posted.

Ryan is walking/running around the house now. He has the occasional spill but is very happy to roam around on his own. He only insists on holding someone's hand when he wants to go down the steps into the living room, when he's getting wobbly because he's getting tired, when he's fallen, or when he's in a new place. He likes to chase Montie (our dog) and play hide and seek. He also likes to kick his mini-soccer ball or the adult sized ball when we're at Tornados games. He's learned how to give hugs to his stuffed animals, Montie, and us and will occasionally give you a squishy face and show off his teeth if you ask him to show you a funny face.

He's also chatting up a storm and says things like dog, ball, lights, shoes, keys, juice, fish, mama, dada/daddy, teddy, meow (for cat), mmm (when he sees someone eating something or when he's hungry), ba (for his water or milk sippy cup), bee (for when he wants to push on your nose - beep is what he's going for), wee (for the swing or fun things like spinning in a chair), wow, oooh, whoa, yeah? yeah? (for the phone - apparently we must say this a lot when we're on the phone), down, wawa (water), bird, baby (for any child), baby baby (accompanied by a swaying to mean he wants to see Baby Signing Time -- the song goes "Baby, Baby, Baby Signing Time"), and da fills in for all other things he doesn't know or wants. Of course, many of the words are missing the final consonant, so we probably understand him better than most people might. He knows some sign language (dog, bird, milk, more, all done) and seems to understand things you tell him to do (e.g. sit down to put on your shoes, give to me, let's go etc.).

He's also rather mischievous, as he wants to feed the dog and get into her water dish ALL of the time. He's also a bit of a drama king sometimes with vocalizing and showing displeasure with something, particularly when people leave the house, but then he can be easily distracted (and the tears/fake pout turned off) with toys or play. I guess that's a good thing, though, especially since I'll be back at work soon!

more pics and Disneymania!

Here's Ryan enjoying gyoza (Japanese dumplings) at the San Jose Obon Festival (July). He REALLY mowed them down! He also like watching all of the dancers in their colorful kimonos and happi coats. Maybe we'll dance for real (instead of just shuffling along) with Grandma Ann and Jichan next year!

At the Pajaro Dunes beach house - reading the Taboo gamecards (end of July). What you don't see is the big pile of cards accumulating on the ground just below him.

While we were down in Irvine for a soccer tournament, we decided to go to Disneyland with Ryan for a few hours. He enjoyed people watching, watching the Dumbo ride as we waited in line, semi-enjoyed the ride itself, and also went on the Casey Jr. train. He got to see a few characters (the White Rabbit, Alice, the Mad Hatter, and a few other random characters I don't even know) as they went out of the "employee only" entrance/exit, and he also thoroughly loved going into one of the shops and seeing the wall of plush toys, like Tigger here who I think reminds him of our cat, Marbles.

Walkin' in LA!

Ryan is now walking on his own (for the most part)! He decided to venture out during our trip to LA for a soccer tournament (at just about 13 months old - what a textbook baby!). Now, he can't seem to get enough of walking around, although sometimes he still has a deathgrip on someone's finger.